"The Trapped at the Top" (Part 1) / "Net in the Net" Original Air Date: July 30, 2001 Episode Type: Manga Canon (Volumes 32-33) Key Characters: Conan Edogawa, Ran Mouri, Sonoko Suzuki, Ai Haibara, Kogoro Mouri.
The primary setting where the Detective Boys and Ran's group spend their vacation.
While this episode isn't a major lore drop (no Gin, no Vodka, no Haibara), it is a stellar example of a "closed circle" mystery.
This episode is iconic for Haibara's deep inner monologue. She compares herself to a "shark" (someone who lives in the dark, dangerous ocean) and Ran to a "dolphin" (someone who lives in the sunny, safe world). This crucial moment highlights Haibara’s internalized trauma and her perception of her role in Conan's life. detective conan episode 246 updated
This is where the "updated" aspect of the keyword comes in. While not a full "remake," the anime has seen of older episodes broadcast and streamed. This treatment has been given to "The Mystery in the Net" as well, with Japanese streaming platforms like TVer listing a "Digital Remaster" version of the episode.
August 20, 2001 (Japan)
Unraveling the Mystery of the Brush and the Past: An Analysis of Detective Conan Episode 246 "The Trapped at the Top" (Part 1) /
While the mystery is solid, the B-plot is standard early-2000s Conan fare. Ran drags a complaining Kogoro along, which means Conan has to find a way to tranquilize him in a crowded beachside hotel room without being spotted.
The main voice cast is, of course, stellar:
The culprit left false clues on the boat to make it appear as though the victim was floating out at sea when he drowned. However, Conan shatters this defense by exploiting a slip of the tongue: the killer mentions the exact time of death (8:00 PM). Because the freezing sea water and constant tidal movements continually shifted the body's core temperature, even forensic investigators could not pinpoint an accurate time of death—meaning only the true killer could have known it. 🦈 The Dolphin and The Shark: A Metaphorical Breakthrough This episode is iconic for Haibara's deep inner monologue
: The emotional dynamic established in this episode laid the thematic groundwork for major box office hits like Movie 26 ( Black Iron Submarine ), proving that the character beats written in 2001 are still driving the multi-million dollar franchise forward today. Share public link
This is a meta-update. For years, fans debated where Episode 246 fits in the anime’s floating timeline. Recently, TMS officially updated their episode chronology guide, placing Episode 246 after the Haido City Hotel incident but before Heiji’s first encounter with Vermouth. This "canonical update" matters for serious lore collectors.